The Construction of a New Home from Start

to Finish Part 3

22) Concrete Block

Refer to shot 6) This shows the window and the base cladding of concrete block in place.
The exposed lintel is shown above.
A textured and coloured plaster will be applied to the block.

23) 24) and 25) Details

The home is really taking form now that it is closed in.

The proportions and features are becoming very apparent.
Note the use of Polystyrene cut to make the form of “corbels” and recesses to the gables.

These get clad in netting and plastered over to create the form economically.

26) The Fireplace

The fireplace to the living room.
It is made from precast concrete and plaster board on a timber frame.
Note that the firebox and flue are proprietary steel components and contain the fire heat and gases separately from the surround.

Fireplace

27) Bi Folding Windows

A view from the conservatory /kitchen showing the bifolding exterior doors.
These are double glazed aluminium doors with cedar timber liners to match the timber trim internally.

28) Kitchen

Into the finishing trades now.
Obviously this is the kitchen.
It is a simple melamine finished medium density fibreboard that has had grooves routed out of the panel to create a boarded look economically while still maintaining an easy to clean and maintain surface.

For more information on timber products

29) Living Room

Looking from the living room to the kitchen with the paint effect finish on the walls and the candelabra style iron light fitting.

The paint finish is a brushed sand effect that can be purchased ready made or you may like to experiment making your own by adding lime to paint.

For more information on paint

30) Dining Room

Looking from the dining room to the living room. The same effect is used in the living room as each room opens on to the other, note the lintel set in the wall above the windows.

31) Dining Room

The dining room complete with its iron candelabra light fittings sits over the antique table and carver chairs. The sand paint effect softens the strong direct light reflected from the lake while the grooved and vaulted ceiling has a white wash giving the same rustic feel.

32) 33) 34) and 35) Hardware

The hardware to the home is iron with a castle/ antique feel and look.

The finish is called patina and is pewter in appearance.

36) Joinery

The same finish to the kitchen joinery is used in the bathroom.
The tapware and basin are traditional fittings rather than modern.
Finishes and styles can change from room to room but it is best to keep it similar in the same room unless you’re an expert at eclectic design.
Note the opening under the basin and the recess is to allow disabled people in wheelchairs access.
For more information on bathroom fittings click here

37) Flooring

These paving stones are actually tiles.
They have been used in the kitchen and conservatory for cleanliness in an area that easily becomes wet and can have food scraps fall on it.
It also acts as a passive form of heating.
Stone and concrete and similar dense materials act as heatsinks.
When the sun shines on them all day they tend to absorb the heat, however when the heat source is removed e.g. at night they then release the heat.
Hence we get the sun on the floor during the day acting as a heat sink and releasing it as passive solar heating during the evening.

For more information of hard flooring